Cafe Ena

Went to Café Ena on a hot summer day. I think the inside is a tad drab so I liked being able to sit outside under the cover of their patio umbrellas.
The ceviche and chips was SO good. They have those thick fried chips. I got the Arroz con Pollo and it was to die for. The flavors were perfect. My dad loved his Cubano sandwich as well.
Our waiter was also great — I’m bummed I don’t remember his name.
It’s a little more expensive there than what I usually go for, so I’ll probably just try to go there with my dad as often as I can :)

Yes… go! Not a Chain. a REAL place.
Red sangria very good
Should have had the guacamole, it looked amazing. Had the Campanela-​not disappointed–
Had the special-​a seafood risotto-​split it with my husband.
Too full to have the Cachureos for desert-​they look fantastic!
The place was humming– a very good sign!
Staff Was fantastic and worked very good as a team.

I could make a good argument that this is one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. They always have amazing specials, parking on-​street is never an issue, prices are fair, reasonable wine list. Every waiter we’ve had (and we’ve been here A LOT) has been top-​notch, The food is something really special and highlights how the Twin Cities has come a long way in a short time in offering amazing variety. It’s our family’s favorite restaurant, and having tried everything on the menu, it’s one of the few places I’ve eaten where everything is done right. Don’t change a thing Café Ena!

I am a big fan of Hector Ruiz’s La Fresca and Rincon 38 but Café Ena just has never done much for me. I was back recently and while the food and service were ok, they really don’t measure up to his other endeavors. I was with a group of five on a business dinner. We started with appetizers of guacamole and conchas (scallops)and camarones (shrimp) which we all shared. Both were good. The guacamole was served in large chunks shaped as a cylinder. Looked spectacular. The conchas and camarones lacked the conchas so far as I could tell. The camarones were nicely fried an served on corn fritters. I had the conchas on the dinner menu as my main course. There were three medium scallops served with a risotto (the menu said corn polenta not risotto but that was ok). It was acceptable but the flavors were rather muted. When I dine at a restaurant such as Café Ena, I am looking for something a little out of the ordinary-​something that has some punch– but didn’t find it in this dish. I finished with the coffee flan. Again pretty insipid. I also had a glass of forgettable Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Service was ok but less welcoming than I have experienced in La Fresca or Rincon 38. One of our group was vegan and they did make an extra effort to accommodate him. This was much appreciated. All in all not a bad meal but I really don’t have any motivation to return either.

enchiladas with mole at lunch make me sing with joy. aside from the fact that i eat at weird times, i have no idea why this place is always empty. something is wrong with minnesotans. y’all don’t know how to eat.

I love love love this restaurant it’s my favorite they keep making me come back every time I go they keep getting better and better

Amazing, amazing experience last night for a last minute Valentine dinner. I loved the high energy karma of Café Ena from the moment I stepped in the door. The closely packed tables were full and although we sat inches from other couples on either side of us, we still had a very intimate, delicious dinner. Yes, my husband and I both decided on the «pre chosen» Valentine meal which was not my original intent but everything sounded so amazing that we went for it. He had the filet and I had the salmon — both fantastic. The corn chowder, the arugula and beet salad, the chocolate covered strawberries with whatever that out of this world mousse was… every bite was music in my mouth. And the service was every bit as world class as the cuisine. This place was busy, busy, busy but we were greated with a friendly smile and able to be seated immediately. Lucinda was our lovely server, a beautiful young lady with a matching personality. This was more than 5 star food, this was a 5 star experience!

Love this place still. However, they lost a couple of stars with me. The food, service and ambiance are all top notch. My only complaints are with the portion sizes and food temperature. Their prices are a bit steep for lunch which is fine if the portion sizes were comparable. All portions of my lunch entrée were more suitable for a child serving. The protein, rice and beans portions were all little better than a tablespoon each. Also, everything on my plate was barely warm. Come on people, don’t let me down! I was such a fan of this place. I will give them one more try in a couple of weeks to see if they read these reviews and care to make changes.

I just love this restaurant. I think the food is always spot on and has been for many many years. This is my go-​to place in the Twin Cities for fish. They always have a ton of options, not just salmon like most places in Minnesota. The combinations are fresh and delicious. The fish is always cooked well. The atmosphere is beautiful and comfortable. I don’t know why this place isn’t more busy. You get your bang for your buck here with delicious food, portions big enough that you don’t leave starving, and the great atmosphere. Unlike some of the newer, trendy restaurants in town, where there is a lot of hype, but the food is not that great.

Went on New Year’s Eve. We felt it was very overpriced for the quality of the food. Our crab cakes were not warm all the way through, and our entrees took a very long time to arrive. If it had been about half as expensive I would have been more impressed. Also awkward — the tables were incredibly close to each other, so much so that it was impossible to avoid overhearing our neighbors’ weird political conversations.

We have retuned here for diner and lunch at least 6 times in the past year. The food is perfectly prepared, great selection, excellent friendly staff. I have introduced at least 5 other diners to his unique experience. Can’t wait to go back b

We just got home from our early dinner. We had the grouper and the labs cake for dessert. The service was great and the food was delicious.

Unique flavours… Every thing in here tasted really good. Nice wine options. place is little small and cramped but worth the visit. Try the juice they have for sure.

I have heard such high reviews of this restaurant, so I had to try it for myself. We ordered a pineapple mint juice, the guacamole, fresh salad, salmon, mango French toast, and the enchiladas. Overall, the food was tasty, but it didn’t blow me away, and it left me wanting more. I will likely not return.
— Guacamole: fresh and vibrant. The presentation was creative, and it was topped with mango and a cilantro oil and served with house made chips. Super yum.
— Fresa salad: tasty, but too simplistic and not very unique. The size was also too small for the price.
— Pineapple mint juice: not worth $ 8. It tasted like the leftover juice from a can of pineapples. I actually had to ask if the juice was made with fresh or canned pineapples; luckily the server said fresh. Unfortunately, the sugar tainted any freshness from the mint or pineapple.
— French toast: very simplistic. Four slices of baguette topped with mango sauce, served with two eggs over easy, and two slices of bacon. A more creative presentation would improve this dish immensely. I usually prefer brioche to baguette for French toast because the baguette loses its crispy outside when topped with syrup or sauce, and then it ends up with a chewy texture. The bacon was thin-​sliced and perhaps previously frozen. The eggs, nor the bacon, were labeled organic.
— Salmon: tasted okay, and the stacked presentation was inviting and more skillful; I only wish the garlic wouldn’t have dominated the taste of the dish. My salmon was also raw when I received it, so I had to send it back. Instead of giving me a new filet, they gave the original filet a second sautée and returned it to me. There was no description about how the meat was raised or caught.
— Enchiladas seemed uninspired. It looked like a school lunch: three small enchiladas covered with a dark mole sauce and a white cream with sides of black beans, pico de gallo, and white rice. The chicken was relatively dry, and the dish did not feel exciting.
Café Ena does not demonstrate the standard or inspiration I expected. Overall, the food was tasty enough to eat, but it could to be taken to the next level. Immediately, I knew I likely wouldn’t return. In addition, the service was very rushed, impersonal, and flat. The server was smiley, so it was not unpleasant, but without rapport, it certainly felt disconnected. I might as well have been ordering at Chipotle. In fact, I would indeed prefer Chipotle where the food is fresh, the menu is transparent, the price is right, and the meats are marinated.

My girlfriend and I decided to try out a new place for lunch and chose Café Ena. I’ve lived in Puerto Rico for a couple years so was excited to have some of my old favorite dishes. Unfortunately it wasn’t really anything like I was expecting. The rice wasn’t even cooked right, little pieces in it that were still hard, not cooked all the way through. You can see they’re trying but it’s not authentic Caribbean, the seasonings they’re using aren’t hitting it right.

Amazing place to eat.
The atmosphere was fun and the restaurant wasn’t too packed when we went. My mother and I visited on a Saturday afternoon.
To drink we had homemade cucumber lime juice. It was very refreshing! We shared an order of calamari– just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Our main courses were sandwiches and soup, I don’t remember the names. The bread was to die for and smelled just like a bakery. The soup was creamy mushroom and very delicious. We saved (a little) room for dessert. I had guava sorbet– yum! My mom had caramel apple cake and she said she liked it.
The service was nothing outstanding but not bad at all. Our waiter was very friendly but took a while to get our dessert orders and our bill.
The prices weren’t outrageous but not cheap either. We paid for what we got, which was amazing food! Definitely would go again.

One of my Wife’s favorites… we have been there multiple times and always had a great meal…
Great food, great wine selection… cozy interior and friendly service…

I am going to give this place a ⁵⁄₅ for everything, service, food, interiors. One of the best places in the city for a date night. The Guacamole here is probably the best I’ve ever had. It just leaves you craving for more.
Yes if you are a vegetarian, there are going to be fewer options to choose from, but you wouldn’t go back disappointed. I am not a very salads kinda person but I liked them here. Not too much dressing yet had a zing to it. We picked the churros for dessert. Another win win ! I am surely going back.

Yum! The sea bass was amazing but I honestly have to say the thing that made my dish was the mushroom risotto. It was the best thing I have eaten in about a year. It was so delicious. I think I may have at some point possibly licked my plate.
We also split the calamari which comes with chimichurri sauce on it. It was so good!
Pros:
Patio
Amazing Food
Amazing Service
Takes Reservations
Cons:
Beer and Wine only (can someone explain why all of the dinner venues are moving this way?)
Parking is limited

I’ve been enjoying a stretched out birthday week (figuratively and literally… I better amp up those sit-​ups) at a handful of restaurants I still hadn’t visited.
After today’s experience, I’m starting to believe that every single restaurant that I went to for the purpose of a birthday celebration, is communicating with each other that I’m not going to get dessert OR God loves me so much that He wants me to not expand my waistline any more than I already have this week.
I chose Café Ena for an extended birthday lunch today with a friend. I chose it since we’ve nearly shared the same ‘hood for a long time and I had to mark it off my list. The other, and more important, reason I chose it was because they source their food locally, humanely, and organically whenever possible (if I’m going to spend money on others making my food, then I want it to come from animals who weren’t stuffed in a crate (and worse) while given a crap diet. Crap diets beget crap diets.
The interior of the restaurant is charming, beautiful, and reflects the latin culture.
Our server was a little sketchy at first, but eventually warmed into a very helpful and personable guide. When we first arrived, he said something while facing into an under-​the-​counter fridge but we didn’t hear him and didn’t know if he was speaking to us. He then stood up and said the same thing again while facing us, «you can seat yourselves wherever you’d like.» Oh! So we did.
It felt like a long wait before he came back to take our orders. Both my friend and I eventually noticed and were wondering what the deal was. There were only about 3 – 4 tables that were occupied in the restaurant so it couldn’t have been from overly demanding diners. Our server soon enough made his way over to our table and from there, his attentiveness increased. I asked him about where they sourced their pork and he said, «I know where we get our chicken and fish, but I don’t know where we get our pork. I’ll go find out.» I LOVE this answer. I loved it so much that I said the exact same thing to my friend. It seems a little odd to get excited over; however, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to a restaurant where I ask a similar question about where their animals come from and the server will say something along the lines of «I don’t know know… do you want me to find out?» HUGE difference considering I asked the question in the first place (the first indicator that someone wants to know something is when they ask a question). I know, I developed an attitude over this one. It’s happened so many times at other restaurants that I really appreciate when a server takes the extra steps without making me feel as if I putting them out for checking/​knowing where their food came from. Anyway, because of this, he immediately started to redeem himself from his lack of attention upon our arrival to the restaurant. Btw, their pork are durocs from a local farm in MN.
We ordered the ceviche appetizer that included homemade tortilla chips. The flavor of the sauce and mixture of seafood could not be improved. It hit the nail on the head. The only thing I would change is the actual thickness of the sauce since it is thin and runny (hard to keep on a chip).
I ordered a goat cheese omelette that came with white rice and black beans. It was filling, flavorful, and satisfying. My friend ordered the Pollo Limon (lemon chicken) which also came with white rice and black beans. He said he liked his dish but that it isn’t something that stood out enough to ever order again.
Let’s fast forward this bus to dessert time. Or maybe I should say desert time. No dessert for Becca. There were approximately 4 desserts that the waiter mentioned to us, so I chose the churros… but guess what, he came back and the fat was about to be changed in the fryer and it would otherwise be a really long wait. Am I desperate? Generally, yes; but when I’m in good company, I like to pretend that I have it together, so I declined dessert and saved the weeping for when I got home. On the optimistic side, bravo to Café Ena for being responsible to change their fryer fat.

Real solid food!
I went with a friend and we shared the plantains, the empanadas and the lamb. The plantain were good as plantains always are. For the empanadas we followed the server advice and had the vegetarian ones which were delicious: the crust was crispy and crunchy and perfectly cooked and the filling was flavorful and moist. Then came the perfectly cooked lamb with the crispy potatoes and the semi-​sweet squash. A great combination of flavors and a pretty generous portion too.
Loved all the dishes. I would go back any day for a well cooked, down to heart but somewhat refined meal.

Not Caribbean.
They have a couple dishes, but the food is more central and south America.
But l came looking for CARIBBEAN food.
DISAPPOINTED!
Foods just okay, as well and it was cold, on a 80 degree + day. Over priced, for what you get.

I really want to love this restaurant, but both of the times I was there, everything was overall OK. I visited Café Ena for lunch– once with a large group and once with my boyfriend.
–Guacamole: MUST GET IT! It’s the best guacamole I’ve had at a restaurant. It looks like a tower. I was actually so inspired by the guacamole tower that I tried to make my own! I’ll save myself the trouble of a crumbling tower and come get it from Café Ena next time.
–Ceviche– excellent for Minnesota in the winter. Very flavorful and just the right amount of acidity.
–Calamares– Nothing too special.
–Carne frita con mofongo– The first time I had this dish, it was amazing. The white wine was reduced perfectly. I’m not sure what happened the second time I got this dish. It tasted like the meat was drenched in soy sauce.
I also loved the aguas frescas. The pineapple with mint was lovely. Excellent horchata as well.
The service was good both of the times I went. (Note: The boy and I were the only ones in the restaurant when we went– we got plenty of attention).

There’s a lot to love about this café, and this is coming from a person that usually strays away from restaurants that serve any kind of «fusion.» Café Ena definitely made me less skeptical. Starting with the food. It’s solid.
Cameron Y Conchas (With lemon beer and shrimp scallops over a curry corn potato fritter, spaghetti cucumber, sweet mango salsa, and cilantro): These ingredients combine to make an appetizer that’s wonderfully fresh, vibrant, savory, and sweet. My only regret is that I ordered another plate of these beauties. This is a home-​run appetizer. ($ 11.95)
Bistec Encebollado (Petite beef Tenderloin tips sautéed with onions and white wine served with rice and beans): I loved how the beef was cooked in reduced white wine, since it gave each morsel a wonderful umami aftertaste. The rice and beans helped balance out some of the saltiness from the beef. I don’t know if I would order this dish again, though. ($ 10.95)
Horchata: Refreshing and sweet. ($ 2.50)
Service: Friendly! Also, the host that sat me down was this adorable little middle school-​aged girl. (Awww.) My server was on point.
Atmosphere: I dig it. It’s a great place for brunch with friends, or an intimate dinner with ya boo. A little something for everybody.
Prices: Not too bad. A bit on the higher side, but how do you expect restaurants to survive in this neighborhood?
I really dig Café Ena, and I’ll make it a point to visit more often.